Unif. R. Proc. Commi. App. & Tri. Ct. 3

As amended through August 22, 2024

Rule 3 - Commissioner Impartiality

a. A Commissioner shall consider each applicant for a judicial office in an impartial, objective manner.

b. A Commissioner shall disclose to the Commission any relationship with an applicant (business, financial, personal, fiduciary, or attorney-client).

c. A Commissioner is disqualified from voting or otherwise participating in the nominating process so long as a member of the Commissioner's family (spouse, child, parent, sibling, in-law, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, grandparent, grandchild, first cousin or step-relative in any of these relationships) is an applicant under consideration for nomination. A Commissioner is disqualified from voting on an applicant who currently works in the same company, firm or organization as the Commissioner. A Commissioner shall disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which the Commissioner's impartiality about an applicant might reasonably be questioned. If a Commissioner's impartiality is called into question by any Commissioner, the Chair will call for a vote on the matter. Upon a majority vote, the Commissioner will be disqualified from voting on the applicant.

d. A Commissioner shall not be influenced other than by facts or opinions which are relevant to the judicial qualifications of the applicants. A Commissioner shall promptly report to the Chair any attempt to influence a Commissioner other than by facts or opinions.

e. A Commissioner shall not communicate verbally or in writing with an applicant about the application or the nomination process from the time the application is submitted until the individual's application is no longer under consideration by the Commission. Commissioners may communicate with individuals whose applications rolled over from a previous vacancy from the date the application was released from consideration in the previous vacancy until the date the new application period closes.

Unif. R. Proc. Commi. App. & Tri. Ct. 3

Added on an expedited basis 12/14/2016, effective 12/14/2016. Added on a permanent basis4/27/2017, effective4/27/2017; amended Aug. 24, 2023, effective 1/1/2024.

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Former Rule 3, relating to Commission Secretary, was abrogated on an expedited basis effective Dec. 14, 2016.